Extracted Text

The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

ments" at the time of her marriage to his father.2 One senses fromthe lines of her diary the essential accuracy of this judgment.In March, 1855, Albert Sidney Johnston was appointed com-mander of the newly-formed 2nd United States Cavalry Regiment.Of Eliza's role in gaining for him this coveted position few personsknew, and least of all her stalwart husband. Many illustriousofficer-veterans of the Mexican War were available and eminentlywilling to take over the outfit. Johnston was among this number.His previous career as a commanding general and later secretaryof war of the Republic of Texas, his gallant service in GeneralZachary Taylor's army in the Mexican War, and his years ofgrueling toil as paymaster of the United States Army along thesouthwestern frontier placed him in line for the promotion. Outof a deep natural reticence, however, he took no move to makehis wishes known and probably would have been overlooked ex-cept for the action of wife and friends in his behalf. They, how-ever, were not idle. The 'Texas legislature, after bitter debate asto whether Johnston or Ben McCulloch should get the position,sent a memorial to United States Senator Thomas Jefferson Ruskurging that he back Johnston.3 In the meantime, Eliza Johnstonand Congressman William Preston of Kentucky, brother ofJohnston's first wife, skilfully pressed his cause upon PresidentFranklin Pierce and Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. The Secre-tary of War and Johnston were not strangers. Their careers hadoverlapped at the United States Military Academy; they had servedtogether during the Black Hawk War; and at Monterrey duringthe Mexican War they had been associated in negotiating for thesurrender of the city. Preston at last was able to write exultinglyto Eliza:Our diplomacy in behalf of Johnston, without consulting with him,has been crowned with success. I made Mag [Preston's wife] write herprettiest possible letter to Mr Jeff Davis, the moment I felt convincedthe regiment would be created, & enclosed your letter. Now youmay rest assured that all the rest except yours and Mag's letters,2William Preston Johnston, The Life of General Albert Sidney Johnston (NewYork, 188o), 129. William Preston Johnston, eldest son of Albert Sidney Johnston,was aide-de-camp to President Jefferson Davis of the Confederacy and after theCivil War served as president of Louisiana State University and later as presidentof Tulane University.3lbid., 184.